11/8/18 – 5:17 A.M.
A Columbus Grove man has pleaded guilty to several sex crimes. WLIO-TV reports 62-year-old Richard Byrd took a plea deal Wednesday. The charges include ten counts of rape, two counts of sexual battery, and one count of gross sexual imposition.
A judge will sentence Byrd next month. He faces life in prison.
Investigators say Byrd’s victims were all younger than 13-years-old.
MORE: WLIO
11/8/18 – 5:12 A.M.
Congressman Jim Jordan is planning to run for his party’s top spot on Capitol Hill. The Urbana Republican announced yesterday that he’ll run for House minority leader after winning his seventh term in office. Jordan says he wants the job because Republican leaders have not yet fulfilled promises to repeal the Affordable Care Act, secure the borders and reform welfare.
11/8/18 – 5:08 A.M.
The trial of 32-year-old Megan Schnipke of Columbus Grove wrapped up with two guilty verdicts Wednesday. The jury found Schnipke guilty on charges of forgery and gross patient neglect stemming from the January death of 76-year-old Phyllis Campbell at the Hilty Home in Pandora. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on a patient neglect charge.
Campbell walked out of the nursing home on January 7th and died of hypothermia. Prosecutors said Schnipke was giving another patient a breathing treatment when Campbell wandered outside. However, they said Schnipke should have closed doors to the memory wing of the facility that employees often propped open. They also argued Schnipke should have found someone to watch her post. The forgery charge stemmed from a false note Schnipke wrote around 6 a.m. January 7th saying Campbell was in bed with her call light nearby, when in fact Campbell had left the building hours earlier.
The judge has not set a sentencing date yet. The maximum sentence on the forgery charge is one year in prison. For gross patient neglect, Schnipke could serve up to six months in jail.
MORE: The Courier
11/07/18 – 8:12 P.M.
The committee looking at the salaries for officials of the City of Findlay met on Wednesday. They continued discussions about comparing Findlay salaries to the salaries given in cities comparable to Findlay. Members of the committee said that Columbus, Indiana shared many similarities with Findlay. Both have a similar population as well as a strong economic base.
The committee agreed to have more research done on Columbus, Indiana as well other cities. They will meet again to discuss the findings next Thursday.
11/07/18 – 8:01 P.M.
The Salvation Army is kicking off its Red Kettle Campaign this week in Hancock County. Major Michael Morales said that the money raised will help families have a merry Christmas.
Morales said that just $30 can feed a family of four for a week. You can volunteer to help collect money for the Red Kettle Campaign by calling 419-422-8238.
11/07/18 – 2:56 P.M.
Income tax collections are projected to be up in Findlay this year. Income tax administrator Andrew Thomas presented his report to the income tax board today. He said that the year to date projection for 2018 is expected to be up by 5.6%. He said he expects this growth to continue into 2019 as well.
Income tax withholding is expected to be up 4.3%. Individual and business income tax collections could see a 9% increase.
11/07/18 – 2:43 P.M.
Two dogs killed several chickens at a Findlay residence on Tuesday. Police responded to a call at 915 East Sandusky Street about two dogs being inside the chicken coup and killing 25 chickens. Melissa Humphress told the officers that she believes someone put the dogs in the coup. She said that the gate is held tightly and could only be moved by a person.
The two dogs had collars with dog licenses attached. A dog warden was called to the scene. Using the dog licenses, they confirmed that Mark Yingling of South Street was the owner. Yingling was cited for dogs running at large. The warden said that he believes the dogs could have gotten the gate open themselves.
11/7/18 – 7:44 A.M.
Voters in Allen County and two neighboring counties approved a 1-mill, five-year renewal levy for mental health and addiction recovery services on Tuesday. The levy benefits the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties. It provides about half of the board’s annual revenue and generates about $3.2 million a year.
The levy pays for mental health treatment, grief counseling, suicide prevention programs, and addiction recovery services in the three counties.
MORE: The Courier
11/7/18 – 7:38 A.M.
Voters in Seneca County cast their ballots in favor of incumbent county commissioner Michael Kerschner of Tiffin. Kerschner took more than 7,000 votes more than challenger Cheryl Radin-Norman. Kerschner said, “I’m happily surprised with the margin of victory. Thanks to all those who voted for me.”
Elsewhere in Seneca County, Hopewell-Loudon School District voters approved the renewal of a 4.5-mill property tax Tuesday by a 225 vote margin. The five-year levy generates $570,000 a year for staffing, course offerings, programming salaries, utilities, and supplies.
MORE: The Courier
11/7/18 – 7:30 A.M.
Liberty Township residents will have utility aggregation plans available to them soon. Voters in the township approved aggregation programs for both gas and electricity by wide margins in Tuesday’s election. The energy choice plans allow residents to band together to buy natural gas and electricity as a group to negotiate a lower price.
The township’s programs will automatically cover all eligible residents unless they “opt-out” in writing.
For natural gas customers, an opt-out option is available every two years. For electricity customers, an opt-out option is available every three years without paying a switching fee.